Brian Bonner Scouting Report

Brian Bonner, SS, TCU

Bonner played little during his freshman campaign. He did not play much either during the 2005 season. But what little playing time he got, he made the best of it. He had four interceptions during that season. The experience he got playing safety and special teams paid off during his junior season. In 2006 he posted a school record, 89 yards punt return in the Poinsettia Bowl game. He finished the season with two interceptions, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He was voted to the First Team All Mountain West conference squad as a punt returner and to the Second Team as a strong safety. Bonner is a tough and aggressive player. He possessed good size and strength. He has enough speed (4.5-40), although he does not show it sometimes, to cover backs and tight ends. He comes quickly in run support and takes good angles while on pursuit. He is a reliable tackle who is good wrap technique and displays good receiving hands. Bonner plays well in zone overages, but lacks the speed to cover wide receivers man-to-man. He just does not have the necessary burst out of his blocks and is not a particularly fluid athlete. He has trouble backpedaling and questions have been raised about his football commitment and experience is also a question mark. Bonner is a solid football player. He is a solid tackle and posses some burst, but overall, he is an average athlete. He does not distinguish himself in any one area and will have trouble matching the speed of the pro game. Bonner is not an instinctive player; he needs a lot of work and is a big project at this time. He probably will go un-drafted.